Save 42% with the Forks Meal Planner annual plan! SHOP NOW

Forks over knives

Grilled Veggie and Tofu Skewers with Peanut Sauce

  • Prep-time: / Ready In:
  • 12 skewers + 4 cups rice + 1 cup sauce
  • Serving size: ¼ of recipe
  • Print/save recipe

Fire up the grill and treat your taste buds to these delicious veggie tofu skewers, which are fun to eat and ready in 35 minutes. Extra-firm tofu holds its shape and sits snugly on the skewers next to tender steamed sweet potato, umami-rich mushrooms, sweet bell pepper, and earthy broccoli. A lime-infused peanut sauce lends rich flavor without weighing you down; it gets brushed on before grilling, giving the veggies and tofu a finger-licking-good smoky nuttiness. To finish, serve atop brown rice (or another whole grain) with a dollop of the remaining sauce and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and sliced Thai chiles, if you like. These scrumptious skewers are also fantastic as a festive appetizer.

Tips

Tofu: Be sure to use extra-firm tofu and press out as much liquid as you can so it holds together when skewered.

Wooden skewers: If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for 30 minutes before using them. 

Gloves: Wearing gloves is advised when cooking with hot chiles, as they contain oils that can irritate your skin and eyes. 

Cooked brown rice: This recipe calls for cooked brown rice; if you don’t have that on hand, get that started first.

For more inspiration, check out these tasty ideas:

By Nancy Macklin, RDN,

Share
  • 9

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 3 tablespoons natural peanut butter
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1½ tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ cup sliced scallions
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1¼- to 1½-inch cubes
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 12 oz. extra-firm tofu, pressed to remove liquid and cut into 1¼-inch cubes (see tip, recipe intro)
  • 1 8-oz. package fresh button mushrooms
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into 1¼- to 1½-inch chunks
  • 4 cups cooked brown rice
  • Fresh cilantro and/or sliced fresh Thai chiles (see tip, recipe intro) (optional)

Instructions

  • For peanut sauce, in a small bowl whisk together the first six ingredients (through cayenne pepper). Stir in ¼ cup of the scallions. The sauce should be thin enough to brush over skewers, so whisk in additional broth, if needed.
  • Place sweet potato pieces in a steamer basket in a large saucepan. Add water to saucepan to just below basket. Bring to boiling. Steam, covered, 8 minutes. Add broccoli; steam 2 minutes more or until broccoli is just tender and sweet potatoes are tender. Let cool.
  • Thread sweet potatoes, broccoli, tofu, mushrooms, and bell pepper onto 12 skewers. Brush vegetables with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the peanut sauce.
  • Grill skewers, covered, over medium-high 6 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender and start to brown.
  • Serve skewers with rice. Drizzle with the remaining peanut sauce and sprinkle with the remaining scallions. If you like, top with cilantro and/or Thai chiles.
Nutritional Information:

Per serving (¼ of recipe): 528 calories, 86 g carbohydrates, 22 g protein, 13 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 0 g cholesterol, 528 mg sodium, 12 g fiber, 13 g sugar

Note: Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only.

Comments (1)

(3 from 1 vote)

Recipe Rating

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SH

Something seems off with this recipe, the peanut sauce is so thin it just seems maybe there is a typo. Is 3/4 cup vegetable broth really correct to make the sauce? I have added more than the 3 tablespoons peanut butter in an effort to thicken it but still really really thin. If I can get the peanut sauce right I would say this is otherwise a great recipe.

About the Author

Headshot of Nancy Macklin

About the Author

Nancy Macklin, RDN

Nancy Macklin has a bachelor of science in dietetics from Iowa State University and a Master of Science in health services administration from the University of Saint Francis. Macklin worked as a hospital-based clinical dietitian, providing counseling for diabetes, heart disease, and weight loss and as a food service director in health care dining sites. She now serves as a test kitchen dietitian, developing 500+ recipes per year. She is a member of the Academy for Nutrition and Dietetics and International Association of Culinary Professionals. Find her on LinkedIn.
See More from this Author